Chapter Seventy-Three Black Blood Fever (Patreon)

Aidera knelt next to the young girl. Part of her wondered why she was here. One moment she had been stepping out of her room in the inn, on a date with the sisters. The next a distraught mother was ambushing her in the lobby. Now here she was, next to a young kid, perhaps five or six years of age, preparing to diagnose her.

Nearby providing moral support were the sisters. Another part of her was glad that they had come with. Focusing her mind on the girl, she noted how weak her small body was. The girl had a high fever, and even as she watched the girl sparked into a violent coughing fit. That was a worrying combination, but what she had heard from the mother had left her with suspicions. She just hoped they weren’t true. Only a moment later she confirmed them, much to her dismay.

The girl had a number of advanced symptoms which were revealed by her probing spells. High Fever, weakness, coughing fits, lethargy, and the worst one, contaminated blood which led to other effects. It was why the girl was so docile right now.

She let out a breath, “I’m afraid your daughter has Black Blood Fever.”

The woman was already distraught but her response bordered on incoherent panic. It was hard to make out her words, but Aidera could feel the mother’s feelings. Her concern was so tangible that being near her was like being next to a blazing sun. After a moment her words became more clear, “Please you have to save her, she’s... she’s my baby! Save her.”

Aidera sighed. It was hard dealing with panicking parents, and worse, she was going to need the poor mother to help her unfortunate daughter. The traditional treatment was to burn the fever out, but that only worked with first or second stage patients. Given how bad the girl was? She was beyond that. In fact she must have been sick before they left or something must have compromised her natural defenses.

Unfortunately her mother, the best source of information for the questions she had, was in no state to answer them given how distressed she was. She looked to the siblings, “Amy dear? I’m going to need you to run to the guild.”

Amy interjected, “Okay what do I need to tell them?”

Aidera sighed, “Black Blood Fever is fairly nasty, and the best way to deal with it is to burn it out. I don’t exactly have the proper...”

Amy interrupted, “I understand.”

Without any further interruption, she took off running. Aidera knew she picked the right girl. Amy was fast and nimble when she wanted to be. Thomas came closer, “How can I help?”

She started pulling out her tools including a set of blades. “I need you to prep these for me, while I try to calm her mother.” she sighed, “Won’t be easy, she is so distressed that she can’t even feel my influence.”

Aidera wasn’t lying, her distress was stronger than the force she was using to help calm the woman. Of course Aidera could have forced her into a calmer state, but that wasn’t her. She preferred to nudge, not hit things with a cudgel.

A couple of hours later, Aidera had her answers. The mother had calmed down enough to answer a few questions. Her mother had first noticed she was sick about three days after they left. A fever. The healer with the caravan thought it was a cold, and recommended keeping her fever down. Even used herbal remedies to help lower the fever, a mistake. That explained why she was so bad already, at least in part. Aidera did learn that it had rained just the day before she supposedly got sick. The Caravan had been caught in the open and the girl had been soaked before they found cover. That bit gave Aidera a clue, the girl had it before the storm. Only she wasn’t symptomatic, the rain must have compromised her resistance. Then the local healer messed up with treatment, which brought her to this.

She surveyed the structure the mages had built for her. A nice stone building near the inn, they were working on a new section, figuring they might as well make it into a proper full bathhouse. This part was a sauna, which would be perfect for baking her patient. Before she did that however there was a first step.

Pulling one of her knives, she turned to the mother, “You might want to leave for this part.”

“Huh? Why!?”

“Black Blood Fever at this stage is nasty. The best way to cleanse it, is to replace the contaminated blood.” she sighed and just got it over with, “I need to bleed her, completely.”

The mother's eyes widened, “WHAT! No, don’t kill my baby!”

She reached out and said, “Your child will be fine.” Aidera produced her card and showed it to the woman. “I’m a licensed blood mage in the healer’s guild and I’ve done this before. Trust me.”

Name: Aidera

Affiliation: Rosewood Royal Healer’s Guild

Gender: Female

Rank: C

Race: Human (???)

Special License: Blood Magic, Mind Magic

Aidera wasn’t sure if it was the card, her mind link or something else, but she felt the woman decided to trust her. Yet she couldn’t stay and watch it, she slipped out into the hall. Both siblings were near her though, standing by. She turned to Amy and Thomas. “Ready to help and provide blood?”

Amy nodded, “Sure.”

Aidera settled by the girl and said, “I would have actually preferred her mother’s blood. It would make this a little easier, but there is no way she would be able to handle it. Not without me doing something drastic like making her emotionally numb.”

Amy frowned, “It would, why?”

“Family shares blood,” she responded. As she made the first cut, it was shallow but well placed. Black blood began to well up. Aidera made four more, none of which elicited a reaction from the girl, but she felt them all. A fact Aidera didn’t like, she preferred to take away pain before she did her work. Only that wasn’t an option. Her mentor had taught her well and this was one case where the usual options wouldn’t work. So instead, she had opted to put a block on her memory. The girl wasn’t going to remember the procedure, as it would never become part of her memories. As for the lack of a reaction, that was just a sign of how far this had progressed.

“I see, I guess that makes sense,” replied Amy as she brought over the first jar.

Aidera took it and began manipulating the black blood so that it flowed from the girl’s wounds and into the jar. She signaled Thomas and he began to feed the girl a potion. While Aidera started her next spell, while maintaining the first. A Bloodpurge was one of the most dangerous procedures a healer could do and required an experienced healer. She didn’t tell the mother, but this was actually her first time doing this on her own. Amy and Thomas didn’t really count as assistants. Neither of them knew a single healing spell. Delilah might have been helpful, but the dwarf was still working through her own problems. It just wouldn’t be right to bring her in.

A smile graced her face a moment later when she felt her spell take effect. Combined with the potion the girl’s body would be nicely fortified. She had a new condition now, one that would temporarily protect her from the fatal blood loss. Not long a few minutes at most but that was all she would need.

Carefully she handed the first knife she used to Thomas, “Sterilize that.”

Then she picked up the second knife and began to cut herself in several places. Before turning to Amy who had already removed some of her clothing. Aidera smiled, but didn’t take the time to enjoy the sight. Instead she cut her love and not for the first time. Thomas was over sterilizing the first blade. So she began manipulating the blood she and Amy were losing, to fill a second prepared Jar. A moment later when Thomas was available she added her blood as well. Between the three of them, she was able to harvest enough to help the girl without harming any of them.

Before she was even done, a voice spoke to her, Normally I would stop you three, but I can feel where you are going with this. I can’t do anything for the girl, she isn’t mine, but I can help you.

Blessing: Dewari’s Protection Activated
Your healing rate has been temporarily increased.
Mana regeneration and pools have been temporarily buffed
New Temporary trait gained: Manavore

She blinked, not sure what to make of that. Nor was she sure how that was supposed to help. Aidera had a child to save. Brushing the notification aside, she barely noticed how she was suddenly feeling stronger. Aidera didn’t even notice as her minor blood loss condition vanished. Focusing instead on the girl.

Pulling the last of the contaminated blood from the girl, she did one last probe of the girl, making sure she had gotten it all. She had, but the girl’s body was starting to fail. Aidera was on the clock. Moving fast she proceeded to take the prepared blood. First a spell to make sure it wasn’t rejected, then a spell to force it into her veins. Followed by a third to seal her wounds. A final check, a spell to deal with the shock.

Then another probe, several more spells and a frantic few minutes before she could sit back in relief. As she did so Amy finally asked a question, “That other day with the Armalisk? Did we do something like this with the poisoned girl?”

Aidera gave her a look, “The poisoned girls? They didn’t require a blood purge this drastic. I was able to do it in stages. Took longer, but was safer.” She paused to take a breath, “Anyway the worst of it is behind us. Now we just have to get her warm and keep her warm. Come on, help me move her into the sauna.”

The siblings complied and together the three of them carried her into the sauna. Where she was settled onto a bed someone prepared in there. Pure stone naturally, but carved to be somewhat comfortable. Then they got the fire going and started throwing water on it to warm up the room. As they were doing this Thomas asked, “So how long will this take?”

“Hours. We will have to take turns keeping her hot. She will need plenty of fluids as well. I have some potions that will help her too.” she deflated, “I’m afraid we will have to go on a date some other time.”

The other two blinked then shared a look before setting in beside her. It seemed they had forgotten it, but didn’t mind. Did she deserve these two? Then glancing at the girl, she sighed. The worst was behind them but she wasn’t out of the woods yet. They still had to burn the fever out, what was left of it. Most of it was gone, but if they didn’t do this she would relapse. Aidera watched her breathing and then considered what would happen after. The fever had already done some permanent damage to her. Well, permanent if left untreated. Aidera would have to treat that as well.

Suddenly someone stepped into the room. A familiar face, she smiled, “I knew you were talented, but after watching you work I am impressed.”

Aidera blinked, “Guild Mistress Sierra? What are you doing here?”

“I came along with the caravan, I’ve actually been here awhile. Just didn’t want to intrude. May I see your guild card?”

Frowning Aidera showed it, only for Sierra to start laughing. After a moment, she said, “Rank C? What a joke, you should really consider taking the test for rank B, but honestly I’ve seen Rank A healers struggle with what you just did.”